“I haven’t talked to them since I was kidnapped. It feels like I should tell them that I’m okay.”
“I think this is a case where you should do what you want to do, as opposed to what you think you should do,” he said.
I sighed. “I’ll give her five minutes. Time me.”
“I’ll hold you to it.”
I slid my thumb across the screen. “Hi, Mama.”
Her voice was muffled, like she was holding her hand over the receiver and whispering into. “Tylene, don’t you think it’s time for you to come on home?”
“I’m fine, and how are you?” I responded dryly.
“I don’t have time for you to be smart with me, right now, Tylene. Your daddy’s only going to be over at your Uncle Creed’s for so long.”
“Okay then, no, I don’t think it’s time for me to come home. I have a very nice apartment and I’m happy here,” I told her.
“But Jolene said you ran into trouble with those vampires,” she objected. “You’d be much safer here with us.”
“The trouble wasn’t Alex’s fault,” I said. “And I got out of it just fine on my own.”
“Well, you see what happened when you’re on your own,” she sniffed. “That’s why it’s not right, you being away from your family.”
“Nah, I’m sure I won’t be kidnapped again,” I scoffed. “That’s sort of a once in a lifetime thing.”
“I’m gonna hang up if you keep bein’ so hateful,” she cried.
“Well, hang up if you want to, but if you do, you need to know I might not pick up when you call next time. Our relationship is going to change, Mama,” I told her.
Alex mouthed the word “wow.” He leaned in and kissed me again.
“Are you still seeing that vampire?” she asked after a long pause.
“Yes.”
“I’m still not happy about that,” she huffed.
“I know.”
Mama sighed and asked, “Could you at least apologize to your daddy?”
That was the point to the call, then. She didn’t really care if I was safe or happy. She was worried about herself, about Daddy’s foul moods making things uncomfortable for her every living minute. As usual, she was putting herself first. Which meant, I would have to fend for myself. As usual.
“I’m not going to apologize because I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“It doesn’t matter who’s wrong! You know he doesn’t care about right or wrong. He just wants you to say you’re sorry!”
“Which is the whole problem. And it’s his problem, not mine,” I told her. “I’ve got to go. I’ve got a bunch of people coming over for a housewarming party. Call me again if you want to talk about something besides Daddy.”
I hung up the phone. I didn’t feel like crying. I definitely didn’t feel like laughing. I just felt…okay. My parents were upset with me, and I didn’t feel like the world was closing in on me. My parents were upset with me, and I would have to live with it. Alex took me in his arms. “Is it condescending to tell you that I’m proud of you?”
“Never.” I nuzzled into his neck. “I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to talk to them again. And I don’t think there’s anything I can do to change it, not without losing everything I’ve gained. And I’ve gained so much, it almost makes it worth it. I love you.”
“As I love you,” he murmured against my cheek.
Just then, a fist rapped at the door. I turned, scenting a dozen or so people on the other side.
“Why, whoever could that be?” Alex asked cheekily.
“Door-to-door salesman?” I guessed.
“We heard that!” Jane shouted through the door. “Open up, or we take back all your presents!”
I laughed as I ran to the door and threw it open to a shout of “Congratulations!” The crowd was so thick, I couldn’t see the parking lot. Everybody I loved was there: Jolene, Zeb, the twins, Jane, Gabriel, Dick, Andrea, Gigi, Nik, Iris, Cal—even Meadow and her boyfriend, Erik.
“Happy housewarming!” Dick crowed, handing me a wire carrier with four bottles of champagne. I’d watched enough British TV to recognize a quality label when I saw it. My brows raised as I turned my face up to him.
“You don’t want to know where he got it,” Andrea assured me.
“I will ask no questions,” I promised as they filed through the door. Andrea reclaimed the champagne and set to work opening the bottles.
Zeb lifted a wrapped box. “Hangers and closet organizing stuff.”